Feared killed, the search begins for Union soldier John Partridge

Sunday

Apr 13, 2014 at 6:00 AMApr 14, 2014 at 9:33 AM

Editor's note: This is the final in a series of letters home from and about Private John Partridge that have been reprinted in "Boylston Chronicles." Partridge lived on Sewall Street in Boylston. He was teaching when he heard the call to duty and joined the Union Army at the age of 27. While he served as a private, he wrote 126 letters home to his family that are now preserved in the vault of the Boylston Historical Society.

John had many more adventures as sharpshooter and finally joined the signal detachment. John liked this last post very much. He signaled using large flags. He battled measles, malaria and other ailments.

Being well educated, he wrote a 26-page letter of the customs of the slaves he observed. He was totally disgusted with southern women who "chewed the stick." They would chew a twig to flatten the end and use it to hold morphine or other drugs. He also mentions young children smoking cigars and spitting.

Then one day in 1864 ...

Hd Qtrs Signal Detachment

New Berne N.C. Feb. 7, 1864

Mr. Partridge

Dear Sir,

It is always an unpleasant duty to communicate information which will bring sorrow to the hearts of those who have given sons of their country's cause, yet such a duty falls upon me at this time.

Last Monday (Feb. 1), the enemy made an attack on our out post at Bachelor's Creek, the Neuse and Washington roads, driving in our pickets and signal posts, capturing some and killing a few. Your son John was at the signal station at the Washington Road, (Beach Grove Station) which station (where) most of the force there were captured. John was sent with some dispatches to Col. Claasson comd'g Out Post Hd Qrs at Bachelor's Creek, some six miles from the Beach Grove. He did not reach that point and, from what I can learn, I fear he was killed on the road. He was mounted and armed. I have taken steps to learn the the facts as far as possible.

Friday last, I went with a party to Beach Grove and learned from people who live a short distance from there that the rebels reported having killed one of our men and got from him dispatches, also that the man wore a wig [John Partridge was balding]. Which circumstance confirmed my fears, we (the party with me) searched for the body or the grave through the section where John was likely to pass, but were unable to find any trace of either. It is not impossible that, if he were shot, that the wound was not fatal and that he was carried on as a prisoner with the others. I wrote you the facts as far as I know them, hoping yet fearing. I shall try early in the week to learn something more and will inform you if successful.

Most Respy and Truly Obt. Servt.

J. B. Knox 1st Lt. Signal Corps U.S.A

Four more letters were written by Lieutenant Knox to John's father. In one, he reported that a Union soldier who made it back to Union lines said John had been taken prisoner unharmed and they were making fun of Jon's wig and bald head. Boylston historians have claimed John was captured and died of disease and deprivation while being held in the Andersonville Prison in Georgia. However when attempts were made to verify this with the Andersonville historians, the numbered grave stone of John Partridge did not bear his name.

It is with deep appreciation and thanks to Nancy Filgate for her tireless research that we can now have closure on the whereabouts of Pvt. John Partridge. She found a discrepancy in the numbering of headstones at Andersonville. That has been corrected in the Andersonville records. Ms. Filgates also was able to fill in much of John's early schooling. A family monument mentioning John Partridge is located in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Boylston.

Thus ends the saga of a Boylston Civil War hero. Known only through his letters to home.

Fred Brown is the curator of the Boylston Historical Society and Museum, located at 7 Central St.